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> The heated seats example is a great one. There is no reason for this not be a one-time charge. if you're referring to BMW, the heated seats are still availab

> The heated seats example is a great one. There is no reason for this not be a one-time charge. if you're referring to BMW, the heated seats are still available as a one time charge. they're just also available as a subscription if you didn't option then upfront. heated seats seem like a weird fit for the subscription model, but as long as the upfront purchase option is reasonably priced, I don't really see the issue with this.

dahdum 4y ago
The issue is you already paid for the heating element in the seats when you bought the car, and you are driving it around as dead weight (however small). You own the heater outright, they are gatekeeping your ability to use it.
- paxys 4y ago
  That has nothing to do with subscriptions. The manufacturer could still sell you the car with the heater disabled, make you drive around with the dead weight, and charge you a one-time fee to unlock it. That would be perfectly acceptable under this law.
  - _carbyau_ 4y ago
    Under this law that's fine sure. But how far do they go with this plan? Do they cost up each part of the car and allow you to use only that bit. And when you have bought enough of a car it can then serve as your transport? The desired rule is hard to pin down though isn't it? But subscriptions, DLC, DRM etc all grate on consumers as not quite right somehow.
- prvit 4y ago
  That's been happening for ... decades? It's not unusual that the "heated seats" option just gets you a button, the heating elements are often installed regardless.
- diebeforei485 4y ago
  This is also true of CPU's, GPU's, etc etc that have cores disabled. Sometimes they are are disabled because they failed tests, but other times they are disabled to fulfill demand in a different segment.
- caf 4y ago
  The issue is you already paid for the heating element in the seats when you bought the car Not necessarily - it's possible the cost of that item in the BOM is separated and offset only against the expected revenue from those paying specifically to have it. Anyway, here's how I'd split this baby: BMW can charge to enable the heated seats in whatever way they want, but the consumer is also allowed to modchip their car to enable the heated seats without paying if they want.
mancerayder 4y ago
The issue is it's a physical option that is being turned on and off remotely, not a software ML / continuous model type of service like full self-driving. The latter requires continuous updating and there's an ecosystem of training it. Heated seats existed for decades, BMW added a software option to disable it. That's completely different. And it's not OK. How many monthly add-on costs can be snuck into the subscription model?

dahdum 4y ago

The issue is you already paid for the heating element in the seats when you bought the car, and you are driving it around as dead weight (however small). You own the heater outright, they are gatekeeping your ability to use it.

paxys 4y ago
That has nothing to do with subscriptions. The manufacturer could still sell you the car with the heater disabled, make you drive around with the dead weight, and charge you a one-time fee to unlock it. That would be perfectly acceptable under this law.
- _carbyau_ 4y ago
  Under this law that's fine sure. But how far do they go with this plan? Do they cost up each part of the car and allow you to use only that bit. And when you have bought enough of a car it can then serve as your transport? The desired rule is hard to pin down though isn't it? But subscriptions, DLC, DRM etc all grate on consumers as not quite right somehow.
prvit 4y ago
That's been happening for ... decades? It's not unusual that the "heated seats" option just gets you a button, the heating elements are often installed regardless.
diebeforei485 4y ago
This is also true of CPU's, GPU's, etc etc that have cores disabled. Sometimes they are are disabled because they failed tests, but other times they are disabled to fulfill demand in a different segment.
caf 4y ago
The issue is you already paid for the heating element in the seats when you bought the car Not necessarily - it's possible the cost of that item in the BOM is separated and offset only against the expected revenue from those paying specifically to have it. Anyway, here's how I'd split this baby: BMW can charge to enable the heated seats in whatever way they want, but the consumer is also allowed to modchip their car to enable the heated seats without paying if they want.

mancerayder 4y ago

The issue is it's a physical option that is being turned on and off remotely, not a software ML / continuous model type of service like full self-driving. The latter requires continuous updating and there's an ecosystem of training it. Heated seats existed for decades, BMW added a software option to disable it. That's completely different. And it's not OK. How many monthly add-on costs can be snuck into the subscription model?